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Land Use, Land Cover Change and Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture and Livestock in the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest in Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Júlia Graziela da Silveira

    (Forest Engineering Department, Federal University of Viçosa, Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil)

  • Sílvio Nolasco de Oliveira Neto

    (Forest Engineering Department, Federal University of Viçosa, Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil)

  • Ana Carolina Barbosa do Canto

    (Sustainable Development Center, University of Brasília, Darcy Ribeiro Campus, Asa Norte, Brasília 70904-970, DF, Brazil)

  • Fernanda Figueiredo Granja Dorilêo Leite

    (Geochemistry Department, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Mario Santos Braga, Niterói 24020-140, RJ, Brazil)

  • Fernanda Reis Cordeiro

    (Laboratory of Technology and Business Management, School of Engineering, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Passo da Pátria, Niterói 24210-240, RJ, Brazil)

  • Luís Tadeu Assad

    (Brazilian Institute of Development and Sustainability (IABS), Brasília 71610-015, DF, Brazil)

  • Gabriela Cristina Costa Silva

    (Forest Engineering Department, Federal University of Viçosa, Avenida Peter Henry Rolfs, Viçosa 36570-900, MG, Brazil)

  • Renato de Oliveira Marques

    (Brazilian Institute of Development and Sustainability (IABS), Brasília 71610-015, DF, Brazil)

  • Melissa Silva Leme Dalarme

    (Embrapa Soils, Rio de Janeiro 22460-000, RJ, Brazil)

  • Isabel Gouvea Maurício Ferreira

    (ICLF Network, Brasília 70381-520, DF, Brazil)

  • Marcela Cardoso Guilles da Conceição

    (Climate Network, Brasília 12227-010, DF, Brazil)

  • Renato de Aragão Ribeiro Rodrigues

    (Geochemistry Department, Federal Fluminense University, Rua Mario Santos Braga, Niterói 24020-140, RJ, Brazil
    Embrapa Soils, Rio de Janeiro 22460-000, RJ, Brazil
    ICLF Network, Brasília 70381-520, DF, Brazil
    Climate Network, Brasília 12227-010, DF, Brazil)

Abstract

The Amazon and the Atlantic Forest are Brazilian biomes that suffered an intense land use and land cover change, marked by the loss of native forest and expansion of agriculture and livestock. This article aims to analyze land use and land cover change history and to propose a sustainable alternative for agriculture and livestock as an opportunity for rural development in these biomes. The statistics of the platform from the Annual Mapping Project for Land Use and Land Cover in Brazil (MapBiomas) were used in an annual historical series from 1985 to 2020. The analysis of land use and land cover changes indicates that the Amazon native forest was reduced by 44.53 million hectares (Mha), while pasture, agriculture and planted forest increased by 38.10, 6.06 and 0.26 Mha, respectively, over the 35 years (1985 to 2020). In the Atlantic Forest, for the same period, forest and pasture reduced by 0.99 and 11.53 Mha, respectively, while agriculture expanded by 8.06 Mha and planted forest by 2.99 Mha. Sustainable land use strategies, such as the Integration Crop-Livestock-Forest (ICLF), can support the increase in agricultural production while recovering and preserving the environment. Policies and programs should consider regional particularities and barriers for more significant adoption of this strategy.

Suggested Citation

  • Júlia Graziela da Silveira & Sílvio Nolasco de Oliveira Neto & Ana Carolina Barbosa do Canto & Fernanda Figueiredo Granja Dorilêo Leite & Fernanda Reis Cordeiro & Luís Tadeu Assad & Gabriela Cristina , 2022. "Land Use, Land Cover Change and Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture and Livestock in the Amazon and the Atlantic Forest in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2563-:d:756419
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